The Green Bay Packers travel to the State Farm Stadium to test the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night.
Green Bay heads to this game having won six straight games after losing to the New Orleans Saints on opening night. The Packers defeated the Washington Football Team 24-10 in their most recent game and they have the best record in the NFC North, easily ahead of second-place Minnesota who is just 3-3.
Arizona is the only unbeaten team in the NFL right now with 7 consecutive victories under their belt. In their last game, the Cardinals massacred the Houston Texans 31-5. They are on top of the tough NFC West division with the L.A. Rams chasing them with a 6-1 record and easily have the best record in the league with the season almost halfway complete.
The Packers continued their hot steak last weekend when they defeated the Washington Football Team. Green Bay broke a 7-7 tie late in the second quarter and never looked back to win their sixth straight game and move to 2.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North division.
Aaron Rodgers endured back trouble to complete 27 of 35 passes for 274 passing yards while throwing TD passes to three different receivers. Rodgers has thrown for a total of 1,701 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions this season. Aaron Jones leads the rushing attack with 404 yards on 89 carries with two rushing TDs. Davante Adams has 744 receiving yards on 52 catches with three touchdowns but he has been placed on the COVID-19 list.
Without Adams, Rodgers could be looking at Randall Cobb who has 14 catches for 179 yards with two TD, Robert Tonyan who has 15 catches for 155 yards with two TD, Allen Lazards who has 15 catches for 184 yards with two TD, and RB Aaron Jones who has caught 26 passes for 184 yards with four scores.
The Cardinals are making a claim as the best team in the league this season. Arizona has opened its 2021-22 campaign with seven consecutive wins. They have the best record in the NFL and are the top team in the NFC West, one game ahead of the equally-impressive Los Angeles Rams.
Kyler Muray is the MVP odds on favorite with already a total of 2,002 passing yards with 17 TDs and 5 interceptions. He also ranks third in rushing with a total of 126 rushing yards and three ground touchdowns. Chase Edmonds is the team’s leading rusher with 68 carries for 397 rushing yards while James Conner has 89 carries for 336 rushing yards and six scores on the season.
DeAndre Hopkins leads the Cardinals with 33 catches for 420 receiving yards and seven TD grabs. Christian Kirk has caught 30 passes for 408 receiving yards with four TD while Rondale Moore has 303 receiving yards on 26 catches and one touchdown catch.
Green Bay is 6-0 SU in their last six games played. The Packers are 5-1 SU in their last six games played on the road, and 4-1 SU in their last five games against the NFC conference. Arizona is 7-0 SU in seven games played this season. The Cardinals are 4-1 SU in their last five games played at home, and 5-2 SU in their last seven games as home favorites.
Head to head, the Cardinals have won each of the last three meetings between these two teams.
The Packers are on a roll right now with six straight victories since losing to the Saints on opening night. The main issue for them in this game is that they may be without star wide receiver Davante Adams who is on the COVID-19 reserve list. Adams is the Packers’ top receiver and he has caught at least 200 more yards than the next closest receiver. Without Adams, the Packers’ offense is losing its best weapon.
When it comes to a winning streak, no one can top the Arizona Cardinals who have opened the season with seven straight wins. Kyler Murray is the MVP betting favorite and he has been spectacular to start the year. The Arizona defense has also allowed the fewest points scored in the NFL this season.
However, Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to three different receivers last week, including Adams. That means that the 2020 MVP still has other options, just not his top one. But if there’s someone who can find ways to win, you know it’s Aaron Rodgers.
Arizona is off to a great start but no one can stay unbeaten for too long. Eventually, the law of averages will catch up and if there’s one upcoming opponent who can do it, it’s Green Bay. I’d love to take the plus money here.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers
The Packers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games played. Green Bay is 5-0 ATS in their last five games after an ATS win, 5-0 ATS in their last five games after a straight-up victory, 5-0 ATS in their last five October games, 5-0 ATS in their last five games played on grass, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against an opponent with a winning record, 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven Thursday games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
The Cardinals are also 5-0 ATS in their last five games played. Arizona is 5-0 ATS in their last five games after an ATS win, 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games after allowing 15 or fewer points in their previous game, 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 October games, 5-2 ATS in their last seven games as betting favorites, 5-1 ATS in their last six games after a straight-up win of 14 or more points, and 4-0 ATS in their last four games after scoring 30 or more points in their previous game.
The Packers may be without Davante Adams but with Marquez Valdez-Scantling making the trip to the desert, there’s a chance that he plays. Even then, for as long as there will be players who will be running the routes, Aaron Rodgers will find them.
Arizona is making a case as the best team in the league right now. Aside from their explosive offense, their defense has been the best in the NFL when it comes to allowing points. However, they have not played against Aaron Rodgers who just has so many intangibles that make him so dangerous.
This line moved up by three points after Adams was placed on the COVID-19 list but perhaps the oddsmakers placed too much value on one receiver when in fact it’s Rodgers who makes things happen for the Packers. This is only the third time since 2018 where Green Bay has been the underdog of six or more points and that means this is unusual.
I may be wrong about Rodgers and the Packers and the Cardinals may be for real. But we’re laying two field goals against probably one of the best clutch quarterbacks ever. Green Bay is 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS in their last nine prime-time games played. Give me the points and the road underdogs.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers +6.5
The total has gone under in each of the last four games played by the Packers. The under is 4-0 in Green Bay’s last four games after an ATS win, 4-0 in their last four games after a straight-up win, 7-0 in their last seven October games, 5-1 in their last six games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game, and 9-4 in their last 13 games against an opponent with a winning home record.
The total has gone under in six out of the last nine games played by the Cardinals. The under is 5-2 in their last seven Week 8 games, 4-1 in their last five games as betting favorites, 5-2 in their last seven games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game, 9-4 in their last 13 games when allowing less than 90 rushing yards in their previous game, and 18-8 in their last 26 games as home favorites.
The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams. The under is also 5-1 in their last six games in Arizona.
Both these teams can put up points on the scoreboard but they also have two of the best defenses in the NFL right now.
Arizona ranks first in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 16.3 points per game this season. Green Bay conceded 38 points against the Saints in Week 1. Since then, they have allowed just 20 points per game. Plug in the injuries and absences for Green Bay and also the fact that DeAndre Hopkins may be banged up after suffering a mild hamstring injury against the Texans.
The total in Green Bay’s last four games has not gone over 47 points while Arizona has allowed a total of 29 points in their last three games. I like these teams to hit the under.
Prediction: Under 50
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